(a) The committee shall be composed of the following members:

(1) The Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry.

(2) The Chair of the House Committee on Transportation, Utilities, and Infrastructure.

(3) The Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry.

(4) The Chair of the Senate Committee on Transportation and Energy.

(5) The Chair of the Permanent Oil and Gas Study Committee.

(6) Four members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, three of whom shall be appointees from the House of Representatives to the Energy Council and one of whom shall be a member of the minority party.

(7) Two members of the Senate appointed by the Presiding Officer, both of whom shall be appointees from the Senate to the Energy Council and one of whom shall be a member of the minority party.

(8) Two members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, both of whom shall be appointees from the Senate to the Energy Council and one of whom shall be a member of the minority party.

(b) To the extent possible, members of the committee shall reflect the racial, ethnic, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity of the state.

(c) The committee shall meet at the call of the chair or a majority of the members thereof, provided that the committee shall meet at least once every six months.

(d) The committee may meet, act, and conduct its business at any place within this state during the sessions of the Legislature, or any recess thereof, and in the interim period between sessions.

(e) Members of the committee may participate in a meeting of the committee, or any advisory subcommittee of the committee, by means of telephone conference, video conference, or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting may hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting for all purposes. However, a majority of a quorum of the members of the committee or advisory subcommittee shall be physically present at the location noticed and called for the meeting in order to conduct any business or deliberation. Members of the committee and any advisory subcommittees of the committee may not utilize electronic communications except as in compliance with the Alabama Open Meetings Act. Except for emergency meetings, notice of committee meetings shall be provided in accordance with the Alabama Open Meetings Act and telephone or video conference or similar communications equipment shall also allow members of the public the opportunity to simultaneously listen to or observe such meetings.

(f) Terms of service on the committee shall coincide with the elected terms of the serving members.

(g) Commencing with the first meeting of the committee called after June 1, 2018, and each two years thereafter, the committee shall elect from among its members a chair and a vice chair.